University students urged to URINATE in the SHOWER to save water

STUDENTS at one university are being urged to urinate in the SHOWER in order to save water.

Students at UEA have been encouraged to urinate in the shower [GETTY/ALAMY]

Chris Dobson and Debs Torr, from the University of East Anglia (UEA), are encouraging their peers to use their morning shower to go to the toilet as part of the Go with the Flow campaign.

The pair have urged the university's 15,000 students to get involved and pledge their allegiance to campaign on social media.

Mr Dobson, 20, explained: "We've done the maths, and this project stands to have a phenomenal impact.

"With 15,000 students at UEA, over a year we would save enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 26 times over.

"Imagine how big an impact it could have if we could get everyone in East Anglia, or even the UK, to change their morning habits."

If all students at the Norwich-based university took part, the campaign claims that UEA could save £125,000 per year.

Mr Dobson said that the campaigners had researched the practicalities of their campaign, particularly the issue of hygiene. He said that they had spoken to a professor, as well as using online research, about health risks for those who used communal showers.

The campaign has been really divisive - people either seem to love it or hate it

Chris Dobson

He said: "As long as the water is flowing there is no hygiene risk as urine is sterile but we would encourage that every person using the same shower consents to the challenge and if not that they don't take part."

The duo are offering the chance to win vouchers for those willing to show their support on social media.

However Mr Dobson admitted that some students were less keen on the idea, which was thought up as part of the Npower Future Leaders Challenge.

He said: "The campaign has been really divisive - people either seem to love it or hate it.

"We're trying to challenge conventional behaviour, to start a debate on a resource that we largely take for granted."

Mr Dobson and Ms Torr are representing UEA in the challenge, which aims to inspire students to develop an environmental initiative for their campus.

A UEA spokeswoman said the university supported "students in their efforts in these initiatives and encouraged all forms of enterprising, entrepreneurial and employability activity".